NFC- Giants, Saints
AFC- Steelers, Chargers (my sleeper team now that they may have a competent HC).

I actually think the Saints could be a dangerous team next year. Getting Payton back is huge. Payton+Brees= a lot of damage. I'm not sure if they can win a ring solely on their offense though, and they'll need that D to pull through in the playoffs. But they're not a team i want to play in the regular season.

Well the Saints started off the year horrifically going 0-4. If they went 2-2 lets say they'd be in the thick of the playoff hunt last season at around 9-6 or 8-7 going into the final week. That could have made a big difference. The Saints maybe awful defensively but they were still a competitive team at times last season. I think they will contend for a wild card spot.

I see the Falcons regressing, the Bucs stagnating, Saints improving a tad with their head coach back, and the Panthers are the interesting team. If Cam Newton plays lights out, their defense develops, and they actually establish a run game they could be a big surprise.

My picks would be...

Out NFC
1. Vikings
- Peterson carried willed his team to the playoffs this year. He's an amazing player but I don't know if he will be able to post another MVP season and simply put the team on his back doe. Ponder sucks... and that defense is meh. Plus, while I don't see the Lions making the playoffs I don't see them being as bad this year.

2. Redskins
- Maybe I am a hater but I just don't see them pulling it off again. Much of this is due to RG3 as he just had a serious injury and even if he comes back full strength we will probably see him running more pro style plays negating the effectiveness of that whole offense. If Shannahan is that stubborn and keeps on with that read-option, mark my words, RG3 will get hurt again and his promising career will be hanging on a thread.

In NFC

1. Rams
- This might be a little bold, but that defense is slowly becoming one of the best units in the league. I think Fisher can get just enough out of Bradford and S-Jax hopefully with a nice rookie play maker at wide out to squeak into the playoffs as the wild card. (Yup I am predicting three NFC West teams, my how that division has turnt things around.)

2. Giants or Cowboys
- I have the Skins out and I also feel like the Eagles will struggle again next year with a new coach and new offense being implemented, possibly a new QB as well. Too much volatility in the off season for them. So out the NFC East I see either the Giants or Cowboys persevering.

Out AFC
1. Colts
- I like Luck but that team just isn't very talented, and I think Wayne regresses a bit which will take a big bite out of that offense's production. Is it impossible? No I think they will definitely be in contention, but fall just short.

2. Ravens
- Another bold call, but I feel like Pretty Flacco, while a very good QB, is not an elite QB that can put the team on his back and bring them to the playoffs. The Steelers should be more competitive, the Bengals should continue to develop, and I even see the Browns at least making some noise going around 6-10. The Ravens identity on defense will all but gone with Lewis and possibly Reed gone. I think Kruger is replaceable but it is always nice to have a plethora of pass rushers. If Boldin is cut that hurts; I like Smith but right now he is now much more than a deep threat and I think Pitta is good but nothing special. Boldin was solid and really turned up his play in the postseason.

In AFC
1. Chargers
- If the Chargers can take advantage of the weak AFC west and split their games with the Broncos that would be about 4 or 5 wins right there. I think Philip Rivers is taking a lot of flak but he has no help. With a good offseason and an actually competent coach I see them in the Wild Card.

2. Steelers
- I can't see Roethlisberger missing the playoffs 2 years in a row. Remember how I said Flacco isn't the type of QB to will his team to the playoffs? Well Roeth is that type of QB. I actually think the Bengals win the division but the Steelers make the wild card spot at 9-7 or 10-6 with the Ravens close behind.

RG3 probably won't be 100% until the midpoint of next season, never mind he's probably going to be put out on the football field way before he's ready. The franchise had a career year last season with the team generally overachieving with midlevel talent sprinkled across the roster.

NFCE is going through a major transition.
What are the Giants going to look like on defense in 2013??
What if the Cowboys slip on D after transitioning to a 43??
Is Chip Kelly in over his head?? 12 new Eagles coaches are straight from the college ranks.

NFC- Giants, Saints
AFC- Steelers, Chargers (my sleeper team now that they may have a competent HC).

I actually think the Saints could be a dangerous team next year. Getting Payton back is huge. Payton+Brees= a lot of damage. I'm not sure if they can win a ring solely on their offense though, and they'll need that D to pull through in the playoffs. But they're not a team i want to play in the regular season.

1. Minnesota Vikings- Had Cutler not been injured, the Vikings wouldn't have made it this year. Adrian Peterson won't have another year like he had this year and it sounds like Harvin won't be there. I'd be very surprised it they made it next year. Replaced by Chicago

2. Washington Redskins- How healthy will RGIII be? I actually don't think it will matter. Healthy or not, I think this offense takes a big step back next year as they try to transition from a passing game predicated on the read option to a traditional passing attack. Replaced by Dallas

AFC:

1. Houston Texans- They won't win the division next year. I think that will be the Colts. So they'll be fighting for a wildcard spot. That will be very tough. They have away games at San Francisco and Baltimore. They also hose Denver, Seattle, and NEw England. Every team in their division Should be better next year. I think 10-6 is their ceiling next year. Replaced by Pittsburgh

Brilliant letting one of Scott Pioli's henchmen have his own team to ruin. One of the premier GM jobs in the NFL and it gets handed to a stupid **** who makes three facepalm moves for every good one. Awesome. Just like handing a new Mercedes to a 16 year old girl who's already been in three wrecks.

Only reason I can see the Seahawks not making it is if Wilson really struggles, that and if the Cards and Rams can improve to make that division a warzone because it's likely to me that the Seahawks will need 11 wins to get in.

Vikings are an easy pick, Peterson had a historically good season and we still only scraped in. It would take an optimist to expect Ponder to improve and the defense isn't getting any younger. Just don't see where the improvement comes from other than Ponder suddenly getting it, which he has shown next to nothing to indicate is possible.

OUT:
NFC: Vikings (Unless Ponder dramatically improves, or they nail another excellent draft, this team might crash. Hard.)
Redskins (Sophomore slump as they transition to a traditional offense and RG3 heals)

Entering:
Chicago (They have the playoff talent, but is Trestman that good of a coach?)
New Orleans (They had a Murphy's law type of season, and still went 7-9. Payton's return should add at least 2 wins, and a 3rd place schedule should put them over the top)

Sleeper: Carolina (If Chicago falters, I think it's Carolina who takes their place, they were still very much in 14 of those games, only 2 times were they blown out, I can see Newton getting better)

AFC:
Leaving:
Baltimore (Bold claim, but they're aging and losing a significant amount of talent in free agency. Depends completely on what they do this offseason)

Entering:
Pittsburgh (They were rattled by injuries last year, but their window is closing fast. This might be one of the last years or so that they can be playoff-good [barring a great draft of course])

OUT:
NFC: Vikings (Unless Ponder dramatically improves, or they nail another excellent draft, this team might crash. Hard.)
Redskins (Sophomore slump as they transition to a traditional offense and RG3 heals)

Entering:
Chicago (They have the playoff talent, but is Trestman that good of a coach?)
New Orleans (They had a Murphy's law type of season, and still went 7-9. Payton's return should add at least 2 wins, and a 3rd place schedule should put them over the top)

Sleeper: Carolina (If Chicago falters, I think it's Carolina who takes their place, they were still very much in 14 of those games, only 2 times were they blown out, I can see Newton getting better)

AFC:
Leaving:
Baltimore (Bold claim, but they're aging and losing a significant amount of talent in free agency. Depends completely on what they do this offseason)

Entering:
Pittsburgh (They were rattled by injuries last year, but their window is closing fast. This might be one of the last years or so that they can be playoff-good [barring a great draft of course])

and NFC East team has to make the playoffs. You can't take out the skins and not replace them or another NFC team without an East winner...

__________________We ALL bleed scarlet New York Giants Super Bowl 46 Champs
UNITED: I actually attend the college I root for

Quote:

Originally Posted by PalmerToCJ

BTW, if it's 3rd and 97... I'm throwing a screen pass to Brian Leonard and he will convert.

Brilliant letting one of Scott Pioli's henchmen have his own team to ruin. One of the premier GM jobs in the NFL and it gets handed to a stupid **** who makes three facepalm moves for every good one. Awesome. Just like handing a new Mercedes to a 16 year old girl who's already been in three wrecks.

Brilliant letting one of Scott Pioli's henchmen have his own team to ruin. One of the premier GM jobs in the NFL and it gets handed to a stupid **** who makes three facepalm moves for every good one. Awesome. Just like handing a new Mercedes to a 16 year old girl who's already been in three wrecks.